LITTLE FALLS - Like most towns during this winter of repeated snowstorms, Little Falls has had its share of problems with snow, a fact reflected when the municipal council proposed a measure to help keep sidewalks clear of white stuff and its unwanted companion, ice.

The township council on Monday night introduced an amendment to its ordinance regulating snow and ice removal, which would authorize the municipality's construction official to enforce such regulations.

Previously, the only one besides police tasked with enforcing the ordinance was the town's Superintendent for the Department of Public Works (DPW) Phil Simone.

"It's really hard for Phil to go and do this with the 37 other duties that he has," said Council President Lou Fontana. "So this is opening this up for code enforcement to do this as well."

Although the township has no code enforcement officer, the town's construction official, Joseph Macones, has been tasked with such duties.

The issue came to the council's attention after what the township administrator described as a "handful" of complaints during recent snowstorms prompted the township officials to urge for greater enforcement of the existing regulations for snow and ice removal, which require that property owners have all sidewalks, including curb cuts, clear within 12 daylight hours after a snowfall.

Township administrator Joanne Bergin heard the complaints and attempted to get Macones to address the problem.

"I said 'you have to get out there and write violations' and, he said, 'I'm not empowered to do that,'" Bergin recalled.

Should the ordinance be adopted after its March 10 public hearing, that would not be a problem.

"It gets more feet on the ground to try and curb any problems of people falling or slipping," Macones said.

The township had some problems with snow and ice removal in the center of town earlier in the winter season, which, Macones said, prompted him to write a letter to property owners asking them to clear the sidewalks and curb cuts in front of their properties.

"The biggest issue is people falling," he said. "And access to homes and businesses in the center of town. It was an issue. The sidewalks were clean, but they couldn't get it over the curbs."

Macones, who also is an assistant fire chief in Woodland Park, additionally encouraged residents to clear out snow from around fire hydrants, of which Little Falls has about 100.

"Make sure the sidewalks are clean," he said. "And it would be a big help if they took care of the fire hydrants in front of their properties. That was a big issue this year because of the snow. Then we had the rain on top, and it was freezing as hard as a rock."

The existing snow and ice removal ordinance also permits the township to place a lien against a property to pay for the cost to remove ice and snow if the owner does not do it.

"If we issued a summons, they would have to go to court," Macones said. "And the judge would decide a penalty. It could go up to $2,000."

Simone, the man tasked with directing the removal of Little Falls' ice and snow from streets and municipal property, emphasized the need to get the ordinance enforced no matter who is doing the enforcing.

"They can put as many people as they want on enforcing it," he said. "It's just a matter of enforcing it."

LITTLE FALLS - Like most towns during this winter of repeated snowstorms, Little Falls has had its share of problems with snow, a fact reflected when the municipal council proposed a measure to help keep sidewalks clear of white stuff and its unwanted companion, ice.

The township council on Monday night introduced an amendment to its ordinance regulating snow and ice removal, which would authorize the municipality's construction official to enforce such regulations.

Previously, the only one besides police tasked with enforcing the ordinance was the town's Superintendent for the Department of Public Works (DPW) Phil Simone.

"It's really hard for Phil to go and do this with the 37 other duties that he has," said Council President Lou Fontana. "So this is opening this up for code enforcement to do this as well."

Although the township has no code enforcement officer, the town's construction official, Joseph Macones, has been tasked with such duties.

The issue came to the council's attention after what the township administrator described as a "handful" of complaints during recent snowstorms prompted the township officials to urge for greater enforcement of the existing regulations for snow and ice removal, which require that property owners have all sidewalks, including curb cuts, clear within 12 daylight hours after a snowfall.

Township administrator Joanne Bergin heard the complaints and attempted to get Macones to address the problem.

"I said 'you have to get out there and write violations' and, he said, 'I'm not empowered to do that,'" Bergin recalled.

Should the ordinance be adopted after its March 10 public hearing, that would not be a problem.

"It gets more feet on the ground to try and curb any problems of people falling or slipping," Macones said.

The township had some problems with snow and ice removal in the center of town earlier in the winter season, which, Macones said, prompted him to write a letter to property owners asking them to clear the sidewalks and curb cuts in front of their properties.

"The biggest issue is people falling," he said. "And access to homes and businesses in the center of town. It was an issue. The sidewalks were clean, but they couldn't get it over the curbs."

Macones, who also is an assistant fire chief in Woodland Park, additionally encouraged residents to clear out snow from around fire hydrants, of which Little Falls has about 100.

"Make sure the sidewalks are clean," he said. "And it would be a big help if they took care of the fire hydrants in front of their properties. That was a big issue this year because of the snow. Then we had the rain on top, and it was freezing as hard as a rock."

The existing snow and ice removal ordinance also permits the township to place a lien against a property to pay for the cost to remove ice and snow if the owner does not do it.

"If we issued a summons, they would have to go to court," Macones said. "And the judge would decide a penalty. It could go up to $2,000."

Simone, the man tasked with directing the removal of Little Falls' ice and snow from streets and municipal property, emphasized the need to get the ordinance enforced no matter who is doing the enforcing.

"They can put as many people as they want on enforcing it," he said. "It's just a matter of enforcing it."